DACA: What You Need to Know

On September 5, President Donald Trump announced through Attorney General Jeff Sessions that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program will be rescinded. Many across the country are outraged over the move, and demonstrating that through protests and calls to legislators. And while you might know that Trump's latest move will impact hundreds of thousands of undocumented young people, it's helpful to understand exactly how rescinding DACA will affect those people it protects. Below are the five things you need to know to understand DACA, and what rescinding it means.

What is DACA?

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals was put in place in 2012 by former President Obama, protecting many young undocumented people from being deported from the United States. The program, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, allowed certain people who came to the United States without documents when they were children to apply for "deferred action," or a delay in deportation, if they met certain guidelines. If granted the deferral, young people were safe from deportation for a period of two years, which was subject to renewal. They were also eligible for work authorization, meaning they could get jobs even though they came to the U.S. undocumented. Being protected under DACA does not mean someone gains legal status in the U.S., but it meant the government wouldn't deport them right away, buying time to live safely within the country's borders.

Who was DACA meant to protect?

In short, DACA protected people who came to the United States undocumented before they turned 16 years old — but there are more stipulations. According to the Citizenship and Immigration Services website, those eligible to apply for DACA had to have been under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012, had to arrive in the U.S. prior to their 16th birthday, must have lived in the U.S. consecutively since June 15, 2007, must have been in school or received some type of high school degree or degree equivalency, and must have not been convicted of a felony or certain other crimes. In total, DACA protected about 790,000 young people from deportation since its creation, according to the Pew Research Center. California is home to the highest number of DACA recipients, followed by Texas, Illinois, New York, and Florida.

Is DACA different from DAPA?

Yes. DACA protects people who were brought to the U.S. as children and teens, while DAPA — Deferred Action for Parents of Americans — protected adults who have children who are American citizens or residents. Obama proposed DAPA in 2014, but the program was never fully implemented after being blocked by a federal court, according to the Atlantic. Trump rescinded DAPA in June.

Has Trump been promising to rescind DACA?

On the campaign trail, Trump promised to rescind both DACA and DAPA, calling them "illegal executive amnesties" that "defied federal law and the Constitution." He promised to immediately rescind both programs, but once in office, Trump seemed to briefly have a change of heart. In February, Trump called Dreamers (a common nickname for people protected by DACA) "incredible kids," saying he'd deal with DACA "with heart."

"We’re going to show great heart. DACA is a very, very difficult subject for me, I will tell you. To me, it’s one of the most difficult subjects I have, because you have these incredible kids, in many cases," Trump said in a press conference. "We are going to deal with DACA with heart. I have to deal with a lot of politicians, don't forget, and I have to convince them that what I'm saying is right. And I appreciate your understanding on that."

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On June 15, the Department of Homeland Security announced DACA would stay in place. This week, however, that announcement was reversed.

What's next?

The end of DACA could mean nearly 800,000 young people are at risk for deportation, some to countries they don't even remember. CBS News reports the impact may not be immediate. According to the report, the Department of Homeland Security will offer a six-month window before the policy completely ends, giving time for the department to deal with pending applications and to allow for Congress to pass alternative legislation. According to the Citizenship and Immigration Services website, the government is no longer accepting new DACA applications, but will process those submitted by September 5. Those who have already been granted DACA protection but are expecting that status to expire (as it does after two years) have until October 5 to renew their status. People whose status expires between September 5, 2017, and March 5, 2018, are eligible to renew their status before October 5. For those whose status expires after March 5, 2018, and who have not already submitted a renewal application, they will no longer receive DACA protections as of their expiration date, according to CBS.

CBS reports 201,678 people are set to have their DACA status expire between August and December of this year. Of that group, 55,258 have reportedly already submitted renewal requests. Next year, officials told CBS that more than 275,000 DACA recipients will have their protections expire, and 300,000 will face the same in 2019.

How you can help

The Dream Act Tool Kit has compiled a list of legislators to call to encourage them to take action to save DACA in Congress, so if you have a few minutes you can call your representatives to urge them to help. If you are able to donate money, writer Muna Mire is compiling fundraising efforts to help people who need to renew their DACA status do so, as it can be expensive.

Immigration lawyers are already fighting back against Trump's move, but you can let the government and legal system know if you oppose the decision by signing this petition started by immigration rights organization United We Stand. Brittany Packnett‏, an educator and activist, posted more ideas on how to help and how to get educated on Twitter, which can be found here